Cheap Oil Filters...

[TheJackal]

Had a b¡tch of a time with the oil filter this morning during the oil change.

I guess it all really started a few months back when I went to the NAPA store near here for a NAPA Gold oil filter. I had used them 2 times before but when I went there last they didn't have the Gold, they only had the NAPA ProSelect. I figured this one was probably less sophisticated in some fashion (different filter element, or something I guess) but since I didn't feel like going to Wal-Mart to get the Motorcraft filter I stuck with it.

Everything was fine until this morning when I went to get the damn thing off. I slipped the band wrench around it and tried to turn it but it was in there good. After much grunting and groaning it looked like the band had bent. WTF? After I fussed around getting it off the oil filter I found that the entire filter had bent. Furthermore this caused a small hole to form in the side of the filter letting out just enough oil to seep out and making this bad situation worse.

15 more minutes of cursing, grunting, and bending the band-wrench back into something that resembled a circular shape again produced this:

With all the Motorcraft and Fram filters I've used, I've never had this problem before (and we've had to grunt some of them off, especially those put on by the dealer or a tire place). Therefore I conclude that the NAPA ProSelect filters are made from cheap-ass metal that bends way to easily.

 

[CDW6212R]

It sounds like it was installed too tight. Spin it on just until it touches the block, not snugged on. From just barely touching, tighten it by hand until well snug. Note where it began just touching, and don't tighten it more than 3/4 of one turn. That is the maximum, a little less is good also.

 

[MikeLitt3810]

Every time i do my oil change i use a 15$ oil filter. i know it's a bit costly but it's my engine, K&N makes a high flow filter may be worth looking into.
Dead Link Removed

As for your old filter you more than likely did put it on a bit to tight.

 

[CDW6212R]

Buy a better filter, like an Amsoil filter and oil will last for a year or 25k. Buy a better air filter also, that's where all of the black in the oil comes from.

 

[TheJackal]

I usually do that "hand tighten + ¾ turn" but for some reason this one got comfy. Maybe I did get carried away, who knows, I actually haven't changed the oil since May but I hardly drove it over the summer and then Hurricane Gustav made me put it off even longer.

Sometimes these quick-lube places gorilla-fist the thing on there. My dad has become big on those places and one time I struggled with one, but it didn't bend nearly as bad as this. This one went flat on one side.

I have seen the K&N oil filters and I do like how they have that thing on the end for you to use a socket wrench to remove it. However I probably won't use anything like that until I switch to full synthetic, which I'll do after I get my suspected head gasket issue fixed. (Not a big deal, but it needs to be done.)

These two pictures give a better look as to what I'm talking about, you can't see it in that other one:

 

[CDW6212R]

I have had that happen a few times. It's always been with another person's car or a cheap brand filter.

BTW I've just got an adapter from Amsoil to mount a separate bypass filter. Those bypass filters are the reason big semi's get 500k miles on their engines. The bypass filter gets the oil so clean that very little bearing wear occurs. It is also a must to not let any dirt into the engine, the air filter must be extremely good.

With my first 11k test of Amsoil, with their air filter, I believe it's possible for the oil to last 25k in normal use. I'll see about mounting this adapter next and plan for the lines. They make many kits for any application, but I wanted just the plain bypass adapter to use the oil sensor port. The adapter separately is only $20, while the kits range from $150 or so to over $300, more from other brands. My lines will probably be $30 or so, the individual fittings are not cheap. Regards,

 

[Cobraguy]

Jackal, I doubt you got it one bit tighter than usual. I have no doubts it's due to the cheap filter. NAPA Gold is a Wix...and a very high quality filter. I have no idea what you have there...but it's obviously not good. I would also stay away from Fram like it has the clap. If you cut a bunch of filters open and inspect them, it will be an easy choice for you.

 

[TheJackal]

I have had that happen a few times. It's always been with another person's car or a cheap brand filter.

BTW I've just got an adapter from Amsoil to mount a separate bypass filter. Those bypass filters are the reason big semi's get 500k miles on their engines. The bypass filter gets the oil so clean that very little bearing wear occurs. It is also a must to not let any dirt into the engine, the air filter must be extremely good.

With my first 11k test of Amsoil, with their air filter, I believe it's possible for the oil to last 25k in normal use. I'll see about mounting this adapter next and plan for the lines. They make many kits for any application, but I wanted just the plain bypass adapter to use the oil sensor port. The adapter separately is only $20, while the kits range from $150 or so to over $300, more from other brands. My lines will probably be $30 or so, the individual fittings are not cheap. Regards,

I almost bought a K&N air filter last year, but after researching it on this and another site I decided against it. It seems a lot of people have had trouble with the oil from the filter accumulating on the MAF sensor, which I know is not a good thing.

I like the bypass oil filter idea, but money's been tight lately. It might be a project for later, but it'll have to be much later. For now, changing the oil often is probably going to be my best option.

Jackal, I doubt you got it one bit tighter than usual. I have no doubts it's due to the cheap filter. NAPA Gold is a Wix...and a very high quality filter. I have no idea what you have there...but it's obviously not good. I would also stay away from Fram like it has the clap. If you cut a bunch of filters open and inspect them, it will be an easy choice for you.

lolol... the clap... reminds me of a nasty story but I'll spare you

Supposedly the ProSelect is also a Wix filter, but a cheaper version. When I looked it up last I think it said the Gold has a fiberglass element, whereas the ProSelect has a paper element. However I'm also inclined to believe that the overall construction of the filter is more flimsy than the Gold series. I don't know, all I know is I used two Golds prior to this and they didn't do this.

Someone on CVN did say that they had a Fram filter that was installed too tight, and the whole thing ripped in half as he was trying to remove it.

 

[Willard]

I've only had a real problem once, on another car with a cheap filter previously installed by a quick lube place. Worst part with that one was the starter right next to the filter, which I didn't realize initially until my wrench made some nasty sparks

On a side note, where did you get that oil drain pan? I like it.

 

[TheJackal]

I've only had a real problem once, on another car with a cheap filter previously installed by a quick lube place. Worst part with that one was the starter right next to the filter, which I didn't realize initially until my wrench made some nasty sparks

On a side note, where did you get that oil drain pan? I like it.

I think I got it at Wal-Mart, but I might have got it from Advance Auto. Don't remember, its been too long now. :

I like the fact of not having to clean it out every time, you just close it up and bring to the store and drain it out. Plus the plastic grate keeps you from dropping the drain plug into the oil and having to fish it out.

The only drawback is the size of the drain opening, I did "miss" once...